World Environment Day 2024: 15 surprising tips to fight climate change at home
World Environment Day significance: World Environment Day is observed annually on June 5, to encourage people and governments to take action to protect earth's environment. We asked architects and interior designers for easy and effective tips on how we can reduce water shortages, global warming and so much waste going to our city landfills.
Opt for a high pressure tap or shower for the kitchen sink. Because when you are washing utensils, greater water pressure can help to reduce the total volume of water you need for cleaning each plate and bowl - an important consideration at a time when Indian cities from Delhi to Bengaluru are facing water shortages. (Image by Israwmx via Pexels)
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Enhance the west facade of your home with greenery for visual appeal and natural cooling. (Tip from Rohhit Garg, Co-Founding Principal, Design Consortia; photo credit: SDas via Pexels)
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Upcycle old T-shirts into reusable produce bags: Cut, sew the bottom, and add handles. This hack reduces waste, prevents T-shirts from reaching landfills, and creates eco-friendly, unique, and cost-effective alternatives to plastic bags. (Tip and photos from Devika Khosla, creative director, The Works Interiors)
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Solar-powered outdoor lights: Illuminate your garden or patio with solar-powered lights, reducing electricity usage and creating a cozy, eco-friendly ambiance. (Tip from Gyanendra Singh Shekhawat, Principal Architect, IDEAS; photo credit: Ian Panelo via Pexels)
Use natural clay plaster for your walls: Clay plaster is breathable, helps regulate indoor humidity, and has a low environmental impact compared to conventional paints and plasters. (Tip from Rachna Agarwal, Founder and Design Ideator, Studio IAAD; image credit: Gabby K via Pexels)
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Revamp old plywood furniture into garden planters by repurposing items like bookshelves, chairs, tables, or drawers. Enhance the furniture’s condition and upcycle it into planter garden pieces such as swings, vertical gardens, or trellises. (Tip from Akhilesh Chitlangia Director and CEO Duroply Industries Limited; photo credit: Magda Ehlers via Pexels)
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Deploy new-age fenestration (window arrangement) designs to harness the natural properties of sunlight and airflow. By strategically designing windows or openings, you can promote passive heating from sunlight during colder months and cooling through cross-ventilation during warmer periods. This enhances thermal comfort and reduces the need for mechanical heating or cooling, leading to greater energy efficiency and sustainability. (Tip from Vishal Sharma, Founder Partner and Principal Architect, Confluence; image via Pexels/Pixabay)
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Invest in secondhand pieces: Incorporate vintage or second-hand furniture into your decor. These pieces add unique charm and reduce the demand for new furniture production. (Tip from Jaskaran Singh, Principal Architect, Fab Studio; image credit: Charlotte May via Pexels)
Repurpose your luxurious, stately dining table into a stylish communal workspace, integrating premium materials for sustainable elegance and versatility. (Tip from Sajal Lamba, Co-Founder and Director, Wriver; image credit: Peter Olexa via Pexels)
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Biophilia involves integrating natural elements into interior spaces to establish a profound connection with nature. Indoor plants are a great way to make a space come alive and transform it into a refreshing corner of the house while promoting a sense of tranquility and well-being. Repurposing glass jars or ceramic mugs as stylish planters. (Tip from Kuntal Vyas Aggarwal, Founder and Design Head, Resaiki interiors and architecture design studio; image credit: Bemistermister via Pexels)
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One of the quickest ways to have an eco-friendly home, especially nowadays when we are facing a massive heat wave across the country, is to implement as many jalis as you can in your home. If you're designing a new home, just go for perforated screens, as they are super beneficial for dissipating heat and allowing a lot of cool air into your home. (Tip from Harkaran Singh Boparai, Founder & Principal Architect, Space 5 by Harkaran Boparai; image credit: Krusha Patel via Unsplash)
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Choose eco-friendly, non-toxic paints for your home. These paints have low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) content, improving indoor air quality and reducing harmful emissions during production and application. (Tip from Rachna Agarwal, Founder and Design Ideator, Studio IAAD; image credit: Spacejoy via Unsplash)
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Optimize Thermostat Settings: Set to 25 degrees Celsius in summer or use automatic adjustments to lower energy consumption. This simple change saves 10 percent a year, promoting energy conservation and reducing your carbon footprint. (Tip from Vipul B. Varshneya, co-founder at STHAPATI; image credit: Dan Lefebvre via Unsplash)
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For people living on the top floor, covering the roof with potted plants can significantly reduce the temperature of the apartment below by reducing the heat that is absorbed by the building mass. (Tip from Ayesha Jhunjhunwala, Director, Coonoor Estates; image credit: Chuttersnap via Unsplash)
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Reduce, reuse, and repurpose – a three-step guide to being mindful: Contentment can often be found in a simplistic lifestyle. Although they take on different forms, concepts such as sustainability and eco-consciousness, all aim to optimise the resources available to us. For instance, worn-out doors on the verge of disposal can be repurposed and fitted together to form a large table with varying textures and colours. By embracing such methods, we celebrate our roots while elevating our homes. (Tip from Amit Aurora, Partner, groupDCA; image credit: Artur Aleksanian via Unsplash)
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